Nothing more important than loving your people

You might be surprised to know that Mother's Day doesn't really rank as a favorite holiday for me. I don't even know why. I absolutely love being a Mom. It's the greatest privilege I've ever had and I honestly mean that. I also have a wonderful relationship with my own Mom. She is a best friend to me and I am truly grateful for her. I guess it's just the pressure of the whole holiday that gets to me.

I'm always at church on Mother's Day (since it falls on a Sunday) and it seems like there are pressures and comparisons - even if they are only in my own mind. There are women who feel bad that they don't have children. There are women who feel bad that their children haven't "turned out" and there are women who are just plain tired because of their children. Leave it to women to not even be able to enjoy a day where they are supposed to be celebrated.

Then there are those who don't have mothers, who have lost mothers, or who have a poor relationship with their mother. I feel for all of them. I think motherhood is just a very sacred and special thing to me and I take it quite seriously. And like every other mother I have ever known, I often wonder if I'm doing it right. If you are a mother, I'm sure you understand what I mean.

As I aimlessly wandered around Facebook last night, I ran into an article that Ali Edwards shared on her page about a Mom. I usually don't take the time to read pieces like that, but for some reason this one caught my attention. There was nothing earth-shattering at first glance. Just a woman writing about how much she appreciates her mother. There was one point that really hit me though, and it was that her mother had taught her that nothing is more important than loving your people.

You taught us that what matters is love, and that love is relentlessly showing up for your people.

That is the bottom line for me. That is what motherhood means to me. That is what being a family means to me. I love my people and I want to be there for them.

I'm going to focus on that message this Sunday and try harder to not worry about the stuff that doesn't matter. I'm lucky to have my people and I believe that they are lucky to have someone like me who loves them like I do.